OSWEGO _ Choreographer Brian Brooks and his Brian Brooks Moving Company landed squarely in the middle of a frigid Nor'easter. Only a handful of adventurous dance enthusiasts trudged into an Albany theater for the performance earlier this month.

Brooks was inclined to be philosophical. In the organic way he views his dance creations, every chance to perform before an audience is vital to the continuing evolution of the dance troupe, based in New York City.

"There's a dialogue about the work that happens every time someone's looking," he said. "Even when we’re working in the studio, we'll bring in someone who can experience the piece for the first time. Every observer brings a new lens to it."

Using those perspectives, Brooks lets his creations grow and change over time. He likes to think of his job as "sculpting with energy," which gives his work the feel of being barely contained, full of potential, ready to morph into new forms.

Brooks’ ambitious dance, “Big City,” will be performed at State University College at Oswego on Wednesday. It has changed significantly since its premieres in Santa Barbara and New York City. The current tour, supported by the National Dance Project, is an opportunity to explore this newest piece as a living, breathing thing that is never exactly "finished" _ an intentional work-in-progress.

Its striking architectural framework _ complex sets are a Brooks trademark _ consists of reflective aluminum rods that rise before the audience, lending one of several visual metaphors for an urban community rising from adversity. But the phoenix-like imagery is cleaner now, after some initial experiments were refined.

It's normal for Brooks' ensemble to seize on backstage insights as occasions for more reworking. His physical compositions _ requiring his dancers cross-train with programs developed for athletes _ retain an imaginative fluidity. There's a sense among the youthful company members that each show is a crucible for discovery.

After the Albany performance, dancer Meghan Frederick said, “We did everything we could tonight; we gave it everything we had.”

During a three-day residency in Oswego, the choreographer and company members will also perform a lecture/demonstration at Oswego High School. That visit is part of an innovative literacy project developed by SUNY Oswego's ARTSwego and its School of Education and the Oswego City School District that helps students draw connections between verbal language and visual expressions such as dance.

John A. Shaffer is director of performing arts presentation at the State University College at Oswego.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Brian Brooks Moving Company.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

WHERE: Waterman Theatre, State University College at Oswego.

TICKETS: $25, general; $20, seniors, 60 years and older; youth, 17 years and younger; and State University College at Oswego faculty and staff; $7, State University College at Oswego students. Available at all campus box offices, online at tickets.oswego.edu or by phone at 312-2141.

PARKING: Included in the price of a ticket and is available in Lot 6, in front of Culkin Hall, or Lot 18, the southern end of the large parking area behind Hart and Funnelle residence halls.